Bryce Gibbs Biography

New Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has flagged a positional switch for 265-game veteran Bryce Gibbs who struggled to hold down a regular spot in the Crows' senior side in 2019.

"We've had that conversation about … what can we do to allow you to play that style of footy you need to play," Nicks said.

"Whether that was in and around the footy as much as we could get him in there, but he also knows that a half-back position is somewhere that may suit him where he's actually at with his game at the moment.

"He's a super player. It's a matter of us helping him in that space and where he can play his best footy."

"It was probably just my form over the first three games that was a little bit patchy and I probably wasn't playing my role to the level that was required," Gibbs said.

"No-one likes getting dropped from the side and I was no different. But it was a decision I had to accept and had to move on from, and I've just got to go back and do what they ask and hopefully find myself back in the side this week, and if not this week, hopefully in the next couple of weeks."

"In 2016, we set about building leadership density across our list. This year, we are sticking to the roadmap and ensuring there is a consistent level of leadership across the board," Blues coach Brendon Bolton said.

"With only one change to our leadership group for 2017, we are building on the foundations that were set last season."

Bryce Gibbs says he had contemplated moving back to Adelaide for over a year.

"It was a couple of reasons. A bit to do with family. We've got a young one at home, and as all families know, that can be pretty testing at times," Gibbs said.

"I've got a few things going on in my life that I'm going through as well, so we just thought for where we are right now as a family, that we wanted to be around close family and friends, and if a trade happened, we thought that was the best move for us as a family right now."

Gibbs says the criticism leveled at his partner Lauren through social media was unfair.

"She was copping all sorts of stick — [the suggestion] that she couldn't handle being a young mum, when actually, she's been a star and handled it really well," Gibbs said.

"It's probably the first time I've seen her a bit edgy and wanting to bite back at a few things on social media, usually she's pretty calm and collected."

Despite the trade request, Gibbs says there has been no issues with Carlton since the trade fell through.

"Through the whole process, there's been open and honest dialogue from me to the club and from the club back, and when it's like that, everyone's on the same page, and whatever it comes to, both parties know exactly what's going on and how to handle it, everyone's happy," Gibbs said.

"When it came to me staying, there were phone calls straight away, catch-ups, and it was, 'Righto, back to business as usual'."

"I spent a fair bit of time with Bryce in the off-season – especially after the Trade Period – and I think it was a really good chance for him to be away with his mates and have a really good chat about things," Murphy said.

"He's an ultimate professional, Gibbsy, he's been around for 10 years now, played some really good footy for the club and I'm sure he'll get back to those levels – if not go higher – again next year.

"He's a tremendous footballer and person, and he loves the footy club and the footy club love him, so we're rapt to have Gibbsy still with us."

Bryce Gibbs' father says his son could still play for Adelaide one day after a proposed trade for the homesick midfielder fell through.

"The Crows have had a couple of cracks at Bryce before and haven't quite got it right and they went harder this time so there was genuine hope that he would be able to come home," Bryce's father Ross said.

"But we're a footballing family and know the rules. Obviously we're disappointed that something couldn't be done but Bryce is a contracted player and he'll have to honour that contract.

"Carlton stuck to their guns and the Crows' window of opportunity didn't work out so we all move on. One day it might be a different story."

"We want to be a team in time, as we build our list, that has more depth in the midfield, so they've had to shoulder a fair burden. To their credit, they haven't taken a backward step.

"These guys have been in the midfield on their own grinding away and we need to continue to build depth in that area because it's hard to play four quarters every game of the year but they've kept fighting those lads, they've been good leaders."

Marc Murphy is reappointed as Carlton captain for 2016, but the Blues have overhauled their leadership group with the skipper and Bryce Gibbs the only survivors from the 2015 line-up.

In the new-look team, veteran Kade Simpson will take over as sole vice-captain from Murphy's 2015 joint deputies Bryce Gibbs and Michael Jamison.

Youngsters Patrick Cripps, 20, and Sam Docherty, 22, are among five additions to the 2016 group, as the Blues' next generation of leaders begins to emerge.

Hard-running midfielder Ed Curnow, 26, also joins the leadership team for the first time, while former members Simpson, 31, and Andrew Walker, 29, return after one-year absences.

Walker said Murphy had always loomed as the logical captaincy choice.

"After the tough year that we had and the amount of scrutiny that he copped I think the natural thing would have been for somebody to go into their shell," Walker said.

"But he has always stood up and really been at the forefront for the Carlton footy club. He copped a lot of scrutiny, but I think the way he was able to come out of it and the amount of confidence he's still got to lead the footy club is going to be great for us going forward."

Bryce Gibbs says he is hungry to bounce back from a 2015 season he says was one of the most challenging of his career.

In 2014, after moving into the midfield full-time, Gibbs enjoyed a career-best season, averaging nearly 25 possessions a game and kicking 18 goals to win his first Carlton best and fairest award.

However, the South Australian could not reach those same levels in 2015, with injury largely to blame.

"(Last season) was one of my more challenging years since I've been at the club, personally and as a team," Gibbs said.

"It was the first injury I've ever had that required major surgery, so to spend an extended period on the sidelines was pretty tough for me. It was new to me and I probably didn't handle it quite as well as I thought I would.

"I had a pretty good run up until then, so I was bound to cop some sort of bad injury at some stage, but I'm glad it's all behind me now and I can move on to having a bigger 2016."

The Match Review Panel should have penalised Jay Schulz's sling tackle on Ted Richards in the same way it did Bryce Gibbs' tackle on Robbie Gray, AFL football operations manager Mark Evans says.

Evans met with MRP members on Monday to discuss the guidelines relating to rough tackles, when he instructed them that when (a) a player's arms were pinned in a tackle and (b) he was taken to ground with force they had to be "far more protective" of the player's head.

Evans told reporters on Monday evening the MRP decision to clear Schulz's tackle had erroneously focused on the differences between it and Gibbs' round 12 tackle that attracted a two-week penalty for rough conduct.

Upon releasing its verdict, the MRP said of Schulz's round 14 tackle: "The tackle was undertaken in one continuous motion, with no secondary action."

On Monday, Evans conceded it was a wrong decision.

"It's caused us a deal of concern on reflection over the last week. While last week I accepted the MRP's determination on some of the differences particularly between the Gibbs tackle and the Schulz tackle, I don't think we've processed that one correctly," Evans said.

"What we should have focused on was the fact that Ted Richards' arms were pinned, he was in a very vulnerable position and he was taken to ground with some force.

"We think that on reflection he should have been charged with rough conduct very similar to the way that Gibbs was charged.

"I've instructed the MRP today that we should have taken greater consideration to where a player's arms have been pinned and he's been rotated towards the ground the way that [Schulz] was ? we need to be far more protective of players' heads."

Bryce Gibbs is almost certain to be a Blue for life after signing a lucrative new five-year deal with Carlton, rejecting the lure of a move home and turning his back on becoming a restricted free agent.

Carlton CEO Greg Swann says the club won't engage in a bidding war to keep restricted free agent Bryce Gibbs at the club but remains hopeful it will make a good enough offer.

"We've got a figure and that is the figure we will offer and if he can get two or three times more, he might go, but from our point of view we won't be matching a market that we don't think is real," Swann said.

"The problem you have got is there are not many good free agents and if there are four other clubs chasing them then obviously the price is going to go up.

"We will make an offer and it will be a good offer and hopefully that is enough. We can't just go into a free for all."

Carlton has announced an expanded eight-man leadership group for 2014 to be headed by second-year captain Marc Murphy.

Andrew Carrazzo and Kade Simpson will be joint vice-captains, while defender Michael Jamison returns to the group after 12 months in the role of deputy vice-captain.

As well as Jamison, Bryce Gibbs, Lachie Henderson, Brock McLean and Andrew Walker are new inclusions for 2014.

"We have the experienced leadership of Simpson and Carrazzo, together with Brock McLean who is a strong voice both on and off the field," Blues general manager of football operations Andrew McKay said.

"After 12 months out of the leadership group, Bryce Gibbs and Michael Jamison return, which is great to see, because they're two very important and respected figures within the playing group.

"We're also pleased to see Andrew Walker and Lachie Henderson step up – both have come off a terrific season in 2013, finishing second and third respectively in the best and fairest."

Bryce Gibbs steps down as a Carlton leader to focus on his game but hopes to return to the leadership group in the future.

"As a leader, you strive to play consistent footy every week and probably at times I didn't feel I was doing that last year and maybe found it hard to give some guys some feedback on different things that maybe I wasn't doing myself," Gibbs said.

"I'd like to think I'm well respected within the playing group and what I say around the place is valued (and) the players have certainly given their feedback to me around those issues. Hopefully in the future I could step back in there."

Carlton has secured key players Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer on new deals.

"There was never any thought of not being at Carlton as this is where I want to be. Carlton has become a real home to me since I left Adelaide when I was 17," Gibbs said.

"This is my club, I have played all my senior football here and feel part of the Carlton family. The growth of the club since I arrived has been fantastic and I am looking forward to enjoying success with this playing group at Carlton," Kreuzer said.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten and Blues champion Chris Judd believe midfielder Bryce Gibbs is poised to become one of the best players in the AFL.

"They might be throwing a bit of a challenge to me, but the coaches and players are all really good in challenging each other all the time, especially this year as we want to go one better and make the top four," Gibbs said.

"A lot of guys had great pre-seasons, but I am probably at the stage of my career where I'm ready to take the next step."

Bryce Gibbs is on the verge of signing a new deal with Carlton, saying he is very happy at the club.

"I'm very happy with how everything is going with me and the club and where we're headed, so hopefully it can sort itself out soon," Gibbs said.

"I'm not one to say 'let's put talks off until the end of the year' - it just causes speculation and headaches and whatnot. The club is working with my management as we speak, and when the right deal is finalised and both parties are happy, I'm sure I'll sign."

Bryce Gibbs and Brett Deledio tell the Herald Sun that they will not be entertaining any offers to move from their clubs.

"I'd sign a deal tomorrow if it was the right one," Gibbs said.

"I'm not going to say, 'Put it off until the end of the year' or 'Let's sign it tomorrow', but I'm happy where I am. When the terms and conditions are met by both parties and everyone is happy I'll sign and whenever that is I'm not too sure."

Like Gibbs, Deledio also says he is happy being at his club, Richmond.

"I love the place. They've always been really good to me and I'm hoping to have it all sorted out in the not-too-distant future, but these things take time and I can't expect it to be rushed," Deledio said.

"If something comes up and it's right to go, then we'll be right to go. It's definitely not the case that I want to wait until the end of the season to get it done. It's all about getting the right deal and making sure everything is done right."

Monday, 21 November 2011

Carlton's Bryce Gibbs is likely to remain on a modified program for a month as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

"I just had rest and a lot of rehab, and I've been trying to strengthen up the muscles around it," Gibbs said.

"It should be fine … but I'm just being careful with the contact stuff. There's no point in hurting it mid-November."

Carlton has expanded its leadership group to seven by adding Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Jordan Russell.

It's a pretty stronger indicator that you've got something to offer the group and I'm pretty proud of that. I'm looking forward to improving my leadership skills and qualities by being in the leadership group," Gibbs said.

"I think I can bring some experience, the past four or five years and 100 games now, so it's time to step up as a consistent contributor to the team - and I think some of my opinions will help with some of the younger guys coming through," Murphy added.